Due to hurricane Gustav, Amtrak has suspended its services to and from New Orleans. This includes the Crescent coming from Atlanta and New York, the Sunset Limited approaching from the west, and the City of New Orleans coming from Chicago and Memphis to the north.

Having put its services in the city at the disposal of FEMA, Amtrak trains have been used to evacuate New Orleans residents to Memphis. According to the Overhead Wire, this was an offer that went unheard when hurricane Katrina hit three years ago. As a national asset, it’s good to see that Amtrak is being for the benefit of the country in a time of emergency.